Quick tips (and tangents) for totally crushing your PR internship
Katie Florez is an AAE at Codeword. She began her internship for the agency in January of this year and recently accepted a full-time position. A professional dancer in the Bay Area and recent graduate of University of San Francisco, she stumbled into the world of PR and hasn’t looked back since.
- OOO (observe, observe, observe).
As Grace Coddington, my personal idol and master of the magic that is Vogue, once said:
“Never fall asleep in the backseat. Always keep your eyes wide-open.”
Make sure you’re not an eyes-glazed-over-note-taking zombie during conference calls — pay attention to how team leads move through a call and how they discuss plans. Take note of the style and format they use in client-facing and internal email communications and their processes for moving through different stages of pitching and drafting press releases. Emulate what you find useful and ask questions about interactions or processes that don’t make sense to you.
Side note: If you’re one of those millennials who wants to break all the boundaries and create the most unique approach ever to everything you touch, calm down. You don’t have to copy anyone or become a cog in The Man’s machine; just consider your observations a free lesson in best PR practices.
2. The only bad questions are the ones you don’t first try to answer yourself.
No one expects you to know everything, and it’s definitely better to ask rather than fumble in the dark. However, that doesn’t mean you should expect to have your hand held. Attempt a solution. Worst-case scenario is that you’re wrong and need some direction (which is okay, you’re the intern). Best-case scenario is you come up with a killer solution that no one considered before. Asking questions should be like going to a party — never go empty-handed.
3. Ask (and ask again) and you shall receive.
I stumbled into PR from an arts background and had no idea what to expect. I knew I loved to write and that it was a skill I wanted to develop. So how do you go from wanting to do something to doing something? Just ask! Tell your team lead or manager your interests and ask if they’d be open to you taking the first stab at a related assignment. They’ll probably admire your proactivity and pass along extra work. No matter how thoughtful your managers are, they are not mind readers, so be confident and make your interests clear. (And if the ping/Slack chat/email gets lost in an inbox, ask again.) You are responsible for the work that you do and you can (sometimes) control the work that you’re given.
4. Don’t take seemingly menial tasks as an affront to your personal abilities.
Not all tasks you are given are a reflection of your personal abilities. No one wants you to interpret them as such. For example, I’ve picked up dog poop, plunged a toilet and run cost comparisons on toilet paper and toilet seat covers. Does that mean I’m destined for a janitorial career? No! These basic tasks are part of working with a group in a shared space. If you feel that people are abusing their power and you’re unhappy with the work you’ve been assigned, speak to your manager and express your desire to take on more responsibility. Also, keep in mind that as a junior employee these are tasks that always fall to whomever’s lowest on the food chain. Use them as extra motivation to do great PR work! One day you’ll be the one passing them off to the new intern.
5. Surround yourself with good people.
As an intern, it’s difficult to cherry pick the people who surround you, especially when you’re coming into an industry cold. Mentors and friendlies will have a sizable impact on the work you do and your attitude towards the agency. Ask yourself how you define “good people?” For me, I know I thrive in an environment where people have high expectations but offer unpretentious support. I enjoy working independently but am happy to work in groups with equally invested members. I like to skate the line between professional and casual and be a part of a team that I trust and am proud to be a member of. I want to work in a place where I can learn and contribute. Above all, I want to be stoked to come into work everyday. Go with your gut. If you trust that the people around you are good mentors, role models and invested in your personal growth, then you’re on the right track.
Best of luck on your PR travels. See you in the trenches!
